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In Pictures: Congo’s park rangers under fire

More than 130 rangers at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been killed in past 20 years.

(***)When you save a gorilla’s life, you truly feel like you are doing significant work for your country,(***) said Andre Bauma, who cares for orphaned mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.
By Sylvia Rowley
Published On 16 Jul 2014

Wearing khaki green and toting AK-47 assault rifles, the rangers of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo have some of the most dangerous jobs in conservation.

Virunga, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in one of the most violent places on earth, is under threat from armed militias, poaching, and potential oil exploration.

The park, the oldest and most biodiverse in Africa, is home to around one-quarter of the world’s mountain gorillas – a critically endangered species – as well as a huge variety of other wildlife.

A new documentary about the park tracks the efforts of those trying to save it in the face of increasing conflict. Director Orlando von Einsiedel, who spent two years filming in the park, says: ‘Despite 20 years of living through warfare, the rangers of Virunga have an incredible vision for their country and infectious optimism.’

The park is home to elephants, buffalo, and the largest concentration of hippopotami in Africa.
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Around 400 rangers protect Virunga National Park from poachers and armed groups involved in the illegal charcoal trade. In the past 20 years, more than 130 rangers have been killed. 
Mountain gorillas are often found at high altitudes and live in just three countries worldwide: Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.
Although the Virunga National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, it faces a constant battle for survival due to encroachment by rebel groups and poachers. 
Al Jazeera reporter Gelareh Darabi on patrol with Virunga(***)s rangers.
UN peacekeeping forces have joined the park(***)s rangers to fend off attacks from armed militias, nine of which currently operate in and around the park. 
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The rangers of Virunga National Park use bloodhounds to track down poachers. 
The Virunga Alliance aims to create 60,000 sustainable jobs for the four million people who live less than a day(***)s walk from the national park. 
Virunga is home to the only Gorilla beringei beringei - the mountain gorilla species - in captivity.
Virunga plays a key role in the survival of the mountain gorilla. Today 480 of the world(***)s 880 mountain gorillas live in and around the park.